CWSpalehoseCWS

Abreu’s production over the past 4-5 seasons is near the top in the MLB. Look how many years he either led or was near the top in RBI production. He is absolutely one of the most consistent hitters in the league. I don’t doubt for a second he tops his “down” year of 15 HR’s on the Astros.

I actually think it’s neat they are taking the time to showcase any addition, but it is sad that it’s Vince Velasquez of all people. More teams should take an approach to do stuff like this as opposed to the basic graphic/static image we always see. It is creative in its own right, especially the way the jersey is edited to change to the Pirates alternate.

It wouldn’t surprise me. Modern medicine and sports science continues to be developed and improved each and every year. It still is going to require great discipline from the individual player themselves to maintain their bodies.

Nope.

I honestly think this is true. Thankfully Jerry is 86. It'll be a short period of suffering for us.

It's a good think Hawk is no longer GM or we'd end up with Hendriks for Yastrzemski.

Hahn is so bad at his job is it becoming funny.

I'd say Rodon/Conforto +3-3.5

This is exactly were I'm at with them. Hahn is like a puppy that just got his balls snipped by JR. He's far too timid and incompetent to make a meaningful trade or shake it up. We're going to get the classic "we aren't going to force a deal to make a deal" BS lingo.

The Sox are far from the Rays. Hell, many teams aren’t like the Rays. I also wouldn’t group Hendriks into the same category as Kelly, Harrison, etc. - he’s a legit top 3 closer in baseball. Worth every penny. Neither of us has a crystal ball. I just like the Sox chances with Hendriks at closer over Lopez/Graveman. It’s not unproven that setup arms struggle at closer and closers struggle in setup roles. I love how Lopez broke out of the pen last year but I’m not convinced he is a future star closer in the making. I definitely fall into the category that contending teams that are serious about contending have shutdown proven closers.

Don’t count out the fact that Hahn can’t ever admit failure. He HAD to pick up the option to prove he made the right decision in acquiring Kimbrel and prove he had positive value to other teams (he didn’t).

There’s far too many people here assuming the Sox can absorb the removal of Hendriks and not experience a drop in production. There is no guarantee that Lopez and or Graveman will be as effective as Hendriks has been. I don’t think it’s wrong to say it is a gamble to use him to improve other areas that need addressing. Doesn’t mean it can’t work out in the end either - but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Sox move him and we are all bitching late-May when the Sox are struggling to close games out.

His knees probably can’t handle regular catching duties. Throw in the new rules and maybe they fear how much opposing teams will run on the Sox.

So the Brewers gave up a future pinch-runner and got William fucking Contreras for 5 years?!

That’s a good landing spot for Manaea. That ballpark should help him put up better numbers.

https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1602090358833352706?s=20&t=V-tJqYKaYsuCi9CDm30gCA Huh, not sure why the tweet didn't load.

That's the beauty of baseball. It's such a team sport it's impossible for one player to make or break a team. Does it make it easier? Sure, but we rarely see the best team win the whole thing.

I tell myself for every dollar Cohen spends, a piece of Jerry dies to deal with the pain.

Can't help but wonder if Hahn blames twitter again for this "falling through."

It's not that. They're inept with extremely narcissistic personalities at the helm. They will look for every excuse as to why it failed without ever looking in the mirror. That's the culture JR creates when he refuses to turnover or hold people accountable for their mistakes. The talent (if there was any to begin with) in that FO left long ago.

Pedro holding players accountable should help. We all know that type of attitude was lacking from anyone with real power last year. From all accounts Grifol and Montoyo can be real hard asses at times. I don't think he's going to be enough to turn the whole thing around, but the effort should at least seem better.

Kepler for ReyLo should put Hahn up against a firing squad. That would be highway robbery. Kepler is trash. If the Sox traded any major league pieces for him it should be equal trash, like Diekman or Kelly.

I don't ever remember a comparison to Gwynn, but I think the term "elite bat to ball skills" was used quite a bit. Little did we know that their definition of that was elite [weak] bat to ball skills.

Here is an interesting writeup I came across. https://rogermunter.substack.com/p/rule-5-decision-nick-avila Talks about his re-worked repertoire he used this year.

Only the good die young. That bastard could go well into his 100's.